The Heart of Dishonor chapters 7

Shadow’s Day, September 4th, 1268 A.R.

"I would like to invite Knight-Marshall Maceol to describe the situation in the West for those gathered," declared Nesel to the representatives in the Hall of Kings as two royal pages produced a large canvas map of the Westerlands and hung it on two conveniently placed posts.

Maceol strode to the front and loudly began, "As most of you know, the war began when the Shadow worshippers invaded the kingdom of Vanstardt in the May of 1265. Later that year, a council of war was called in the Valley of Life in the kingdom of Hemlock. All nations of the continent immediately declared war on the Shadow worshippers save Brosurg, Sybürmia and the Rosian Isle. The next January, the last stronghold of Vanstardt was overrun and King Adelik was captured. The Shadow worshippers refuse to negotiate for a ransom, and the current whereabouts of the king is unknown."

A duke by the name of Galai, who supported Nesel, stood and stated, "Forgive me, for I am unfamiliar with the history of the war, but if Sybürmia initially declined to aid Vanstardt, who or what changed their minds?"

Maceol immediately responded, "After Sarune was slain by the honorable Duke Iaen in 1247, the people of Sybürmia signed a treaty indicating that ‘though our ways may be different, let it be known that any enemy of Octania is an enemy of ours.’ This treaty was well kept until the Shadow worshippers invaded."

A lady in the crowd asked, "So they fight merely for the treaty?"

Maceol turned, "Then they fought for the treaty, but now they have seen the power of Shadow’s black host. They fight now, as do all of us, for the fate of the Westerlands."

He turned back to the map. "Moving along, an army two thousand strong crossed the border into Heinsydil and laid siege to the castle of Leksandof in the March of 1267. In light of the besiegement, the neighboring kingdom of Brosurg agreed to enter the war. Since then, The Shadow worshippers have taken over half the kingdom of Heinsydil, as well as all of Kenin, Co’til, Keshir and its sister kingdom Sethir. They were finally turned back in a battle before the gates of Hemlock Stronghold."

Maceol gazed around and the confused looks of some of the gathered as they watched Maceol trace the enemy campaign. He said, "Those of you who having studied modern warcraft are no doubt wondering at the strange path taken by the bulk of the Shadow worshippers. Instead of crossing the Lom in several places and gradually expanding their domain, they have instead had heir army occupy territory that is bordered on three sides by hostile territory. All of our strategic analysis has come up with only one conclusion: that they wish to take the Valley of Life, even at the cost of most of their conquered realm. We can only assume that they felt the capture of the Valley would lead to the capitulation of the remaining kingdoms. This assumption, which is agreed upon by all allied kingdoms, indicates they have no desire to sign a peace treaty.

"Do you hear me? They wish to take all the continent! They did not stop at Vanstardt and will not stop at the Westerlands!" He was not really sure if this was true, and in fact they would fight the war simply to save the Westerners, but he needed something to help convince the unbelievers.

Guildmaster Jaku scowled and said, "Enough with the history lesson. You were to present the current situation in the West."

Maceol gestured to the map.